Kenya 'open for business' as President aims high

Created: Wednesday, 31 August 2016 07:39

Kenyatta announces bold plans. (Image source: Flickr Unmiss)President Jomo Kenyatta has 'set a path' to be a major oil producer by 2019

Ahead of the 4th East Africa Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition in Nairobi in November 2016, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said his government has set a plan to be a major oil producer by 2019, bolsted the construction of the Lokichar-Lamu crude oil pipeline. This announcement shows high ambitions as the deadline for the pipeline has been brought forward by two years. The start date for oil production has been annouced as March 2017.

“We have started and we are not moving back. We want to be at the top of the pile. So, we have set a path and by 2019, Kenya is going to be a major oil producer and exporter,” Kenyatta said at State House, Nairobi.

These plans for oil and gas production in Kenya are moving forward at an unprecedented rate. The Honourable Charles Keter, Kenya's energy cabinet secretary, will provide a full update of the plans during his keynote speech at the East Africa Oil and Gas Summitt in Nairobi on 16 November.

The summit is also offering guests information into how the East of the continent will learn from the mistakes of the West, updates on projects in the Rift Valley, Uganda and the Indian Ocean and how the industry are tackling environmental and safety concerns.